The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-04
SENATOR VESTS STATEMENT.
He Says the President Never Told Him
He Would Refuse a Second Term.

He Says the President Never Told Him
He Would Refuse a Second Term.
New YORK, April Ex-senator George G..
Vest, of Missouri, when asked by reporter
for the Commercial-Advertiser to-day,
whether or not, as has been alleged, that
he was the Western Senator referred to in
the dispatch TO the St. Louis Republican as
authority for the statement that President
Cleveland would refuse q second term,
said: mo. sir; never said so. never
said anything that could reasonably be
construed into any such meaning. Mr..
Cleveland never told me he would
not accept denomination and would soon
cause the publication of a letter saying so.
He never told my colleague from Missouri
anything of that kind. l never so re-
ported to the correspondent of the st.
Louis Republican nor anybody else. For
long time was utterly unable TO guess
how such report started. After strictly
cross examining myself about all l recent
ly said and done, l hit upon an explana-
ton of the matter, and think 1T is true
one. was calling upon President Uleve-
land not long ago, when in the course OF
conversation about the state of the Demo
the only ambition he had was
to so honestly and faithfully admin
lister the affairs of the Government
that the people would elect any Democrat
who might be nominated in 1888. He had
been accused of selfish motives, but he
added IF 1 could consult my own per-
sonal desires 7 would lay down the office
Of President tomorrow. That was all he
said. He did not intimate he would refuse
to be a candidate again if the party de-
sired him to be re-nominated. certainly
| did not get any such impression from what
| be said. / regarded his remarks to be SIM
| ply disclaimer of personal ambition in
| the matter. Well, several weeks after the
talk 1 was with small party of Democrats,
who were mostly anti-Cleveland men.
| They began criticising the President for
| irving to secure his denomination and
| crafty selfish ambition. Now, I'm a
pretty hot Cleveland man myself, and
| when heard this talk, got up and de-
T; clared it utterly without foundation. How
| do you know thatf' they inquired, MT.
| Cleveland positively assured me- replied,
he had no other ambition in being Presi-
| dent than to serve the party and country.
| He said if he could feel free to consult his
| own comfort, he would lay down the Office
| of President at once
| THAT was all. said, and all have said
| about the matter. Undoubtedly my re-
mark was repeated outside, and grew with
| each repetition until it reached the CORE
spondent of the Republican in the shape
in which ii was given Ito the world. have
denied the story frequently tony friends,
and 1 am glad to have a chance
to deny it publicly, because 1 think the
report is likely to do Mr.. Cleveland some
harm. My relations with the President
are not particularly intimate, but l am
sure his statement to me accurately ex
pressed his sentiments. He is not trying
10 secure a denomination. He has no
made one appointment with that end in
view. His personal tastes are not at al
| coneepial to the life he has 10 lead as thu
nations executive. Yet il the Democratic
party wants him to be its leader next yea
he will consider it his duty to accept th'
task and do the very best b.
can, That is his idea anyway
TO DO the best he car
all the time, and, although / don't agre
with him about good many things, ant
thipk be might put crest many NOR